ONLY days to go until eight contestant couples step on stage and dance their hearts out at Strictly Worcestershire, all in aid of local charities.

Worcester Community Trust is a selected charity for this year’s dance competition, organised by Worcestershire Ambassadors.

The trust works across Worcester right in the heart of six different communities, supporting families, from childhood to the elderly, through a range of services.

Faith Sanderson, chief executive officer said: “Being selected as one of the benefitting charities for the Strictly event this year is a huge deal to the Trust. With demand for all its services increasing and funding decreasing - it really does help support those we work with. The impact we see at the trust is across the whole family, not just one individual - this holistic support is so valuable for the vulnerable communities we work in.”

Across Worcester the charity supported 4,500 vulnerable people last year alone - from youth clubs, after school groups to adult empowerment tackling social isolation or providing domestic abuse support.

The charity’s aim is to grow their mental health support for vulnerable people and promote positive activities. This year the charity is providing a domestic abuse 'survivors network', youth mentoring and training, providing targeted support sessions through community connectors as well as sports, activities and community events.

The funds raised from Strictly will help support those going through domestic abuse, children who are at risk and also help provide work supporting older people tackling social isolation across Worcester. With 14 different projects that the charity run, the funds will go a long way offering support to those in Worcester who need it most.

Worcester Community Trust donated a room at the Warndon Hub, in Shap Drive, for Strictly dancers Jack Tingle and Grace Walton to practice in.

The couple have been using the facility weekly, adding: "The Warndon Hub has been our classroom for learning the two dances. We've made real strides there and I'm so grateful that we were donated that space. I can honestly say we wouldn't have been ready to perform if we didn't have it. I want to personally thank the people from Worcester Community Trust for helping us out massively.”

For more information on what the charity offer, visit their

web page.

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